Trampoline with improved hooking structure

ABSTRACT

A trampoline with improved hooking structure includes a first annular member, legs, a second annular member, and elastic units. The legs has end fixed to the first annular member. The second annular member is larger than the first annular member and is coupled to the legs and is arranged below the first annular member. The elastic units each include a connection ring attached to an elastic mat, a brace element, and an elastic element. The brace element has a projection end pivoted to the first annular member and two opposite end respectively pivoted to first and second joint members. The first joint member has an opposite end coupled to the connection ring to set the elastic mat within the first annular member. The second joint member has an opposite end coupled to the elastic element and an opposite end of the elastic element is attached to the second annular member.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a trampoline, and more particularly to an improved hooking structure of a trampoline that involves a linkage structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A conventional trampoline is composed of a frame, springs, a spring net, and support legs. The frame is generally a circular one and the plurality of springs is used to couple the spring net to the frame. The support legs are mounted under the frame to support the frame away from the ground surface. To use the trampoline, a user stands on the spring net and jumps up. As stated previously, the spring net is coupled to the frame by the springs. This structure makes it easy to manufacture. However, simply using the springs to achieve supporting and cushioning force acting on the up-and-down moving spring net, particularly the spring being arranged horizontal, while the spring net being movable vertically, the structural strength that is available would be generally insufficient, making it not possible to uniformly spreading and distributing the force acting on the spring net.

In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a solution that overcomes such technical deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a trampoline with improved hooking structure, which comprises: a first annular member, a plurality of legs, a second annular member, and a plurality of elastic units, wherein the plurality of legs have ends attached to the first annular member to be spaced from each other. The second annular member is larger in size than the first annular member. The second annular member is coupled to each of the legs. The second annular member is arranged below the first annular member. The elastic units each comprise a connection ring attached to an elastic mat, a brace element, and an elastic element. The brace element has a projection end pivotally connected to an outer side of the first annular member. The brace element has two opposite ends respectively pivoted to a first joint member and a second joint member. The first joint member has an opposite end coupled to the connection ring so as to set the elastic mat within the first annular member. The second joint member has an opposite end coupled to the elastic element and an opposite end of the elastic element is attached to an outer side of the second annular member in a manner of being circumferentially distributed. As such, when the elastic mat is acted upon by a force and sinks, the brace elements are forced to rotate so as to pull and move the elastic elements.

The primary object of the trampoline with improved hooking structure is as follows:

(1) When an elastic mat is acted upon by an external force, elastic elements are pulled and moved through a multiple-link arrangement so as to provide the best effect of cushioning

(2) The elastic elements are each arranged vertically to be consistent with the direction of forces acting on the elastic mat so as to effectively improve strength and durability thereof

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating an operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the present invention provides a trampoline with improved hooking structure, which is generally designated at 1 and comprises:

a first annular member 10, a plurality of legs 20, a second annular member 30, and a plurality of elastic units 40.

The legs 20 have ends that are attached to the first annular member 10 to be spaced from each other. The first annular member 10 comprises a plurality of mounting members 11 fixed thereto in a manner of being spaced from each other, preferably at a fixed interval. Each of the mounting members 11 comprises a coupling section 12 formed thereon and protruding therefrom. The coupling section 12 comprises a through hole 121 formed therein.

The second annular member 30 is larger in size than the first annular member 10. The second annular member 30 is coupled to each of the legs 20. The second annular member 30 is arranged below the first annular member 10.

The second annular member 30 comprises a plurality of coupling apertures 31 formed therein in a manner of being spaced from each other.

The elastic units 40 each comprise a connection ring 411 fixed to an elastic mat 41, a brace element 42, and an elastic element 43.

The connection rings 411 are arranged along and fixed to a circumference of the elastic mat 41 in a spaced manner.

In an alternate embodiment, each of the legs 20 has an opposite end that is coupled to a third annular member 50 as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the brace element 42 comprises a first end 421 and a second end 422. The first end 421 and the second end 422 are respectively pivoted to a first joint member 44 and a second joint member 45.

A third end 423 of the brace element is arranged between the first end 421 and the second end 422. The third end 423 is pivotally connected to the through hole 121 of a respective one of the coupling sections 12.

The first joint member 44 has a distal end that is coupled to the connection rings 411 so that the elastic mat 41 is set within the first annular member 10.

The elastic element 43 has two ends each forming a hook 431, which is set in engagement with the second joint member 45 and a respective one of the coupling apertures 31.

The second joint member 45 comprises a twist section 451. The second joint member 45 has a top end that is pivotally connected the second end 422 about a first longitudinal direction. The second joint member 45 has a bottom end that is pivotally connected to the elastic element 43 about a second transverse direction, which is different from and preferably perpendicular to the first direction.

Referring to FIG. 5, in use of the trampoline 1 of the present invention, the elastic mat 41 receives and supports a user to rebound thereon. When the elastic mat 41 receives a force acting thereon, the elastic mat sinks and causes the first joint member 44 to move so as to make the third end 423 of the brace element 42 rotating and simultaneously, the second end 422 pulls the second joint member 45 to move. Since the elastic element 43 is fixed at one end thereof to the second annular member 30 and since the end of the elastic element 43 that is coupled to the second joint member 45 receives a force acting thereon and is thus stretched, the elastic mat 41 can be supported by both the brace element 42 and the elastic element 43, while the force can be distributed to all the brace elements 40 and allows for quick returning.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment illustrated, every two of the legs 20 are grouped together and the ends thereof that are opposite to the first annular member are curved outward for further extension and combination with each other; while in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the opposite ends of the legs are coupled to a third annular member 50.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A trampoline, comprising: a first annular member; a plurality of legs, which has ends attached to the first annular member to be spaced from each other; a second annular member, which larger in size than the first annular member, the second annular member being coupled to each of the legs, the second annular member being arranged below the first annular member; and a plurality of elastic units, each of which comprises a connection ring fixed to an elastic mat, a brace element, and an elastic element, wherein the brace element has a projection end pivotally connected to an outer side of the first annular member, the brace element having two opposite ends that are respectively pivoted to a first joint member and a second joint member, the first joint member having a distal end coupled to the connection ring so as to set the elastic mat within the first annular member, the second joint member having a distal end coupled to the elastic element, the elastic element having an opposite end that is attached to an outer side of the second annular member in a circumferentially distributed manner, whereby when the elastic mat is acted upon by a force and gets sinking, each of the brace elements is forced to rotate so as to pull and move each of the elastic elements.
 2. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein the first annular member comprises a plurality of mounting members fixed thereto in a manner of being spaced from each other, each of the mounting members comprising a coupling section formed thereon and protruding therefrom, the coupling section comprising a through hole formed therein for pivotal connection with the brace element.
 3. The trampoline according to claim 2, wherein the brace element comprises a first end and a second end, a third end being arranged between the first end and the second end in a manner of outward projecting, the third end being pivoted to the coupling section, the first end and the second end being respectively and pivotally connected to the first joint member and the second joint member.
 4. The trampoline according to claim 3, wherein the first joint member and the second joint member are respectively coupled to the connection ring and the elastic element, the connection rings being fixed to and circumferential arranged a circumference of the elastic mat.
 5. The trampoline according to claim 4, wherein the second joint member comprises a twist section, the second joint member having a top end that is pivotally connected to the second end about a first direction, the second joint member having a bottom end that is pivotally connected to the elastic element about a second direction that is different from the first direction.
 6. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein the second annular member comprises a plurality of coupling apertures formed therein in a manner of being spaced from each other, the elastic element having two ends each forming a hook respectively coupled to the second joint member and the coupling aperture.
 7. The trampoline according to claim 1, wherein each of the legs has an opposite end coupled to a third annular member. 